Irish prosecutors charged alleged Irish crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan with directing a criminal organisation at a special court sitting late on Sunday following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates.
Kinahan, 49, faces charges that he ran an international drug smuggling and money-laundering empire with tentacles that stretched to Britain, Spain and the United States.
Air Tracker data showed an Irish Air Corps plane from Dubai landing on Sunday evening at a military airport on the outskirts of Dublin after courts in the UAE refused to block his extradition.
It is expected Kinahan will be held at the high-security Portlaoise Prison, about 145km (90 miles) southwest of Dublin, Irish broadcaster RTE reported.
Ireland’s Special Criminal Court handles all organised crime and terrorism cases, as well as others where prosecutors believe the ordinary courts are inadequate to ensure the “effective administration of justice”. Cases are heard by a panel of three judges without a jury.
Irish media report that a huge security operation is under way to ensure Kinahan faces justice. It will include armed police, members of the armed forces and the prison service – which recently acquired a bombproof escort van to transport organised crime suspects, terrorists and other high-risk prisoners, Irish broadcaster RTE reported.